AFRICA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

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The Government-owned SABC, a limited liability company, continued to own and
control the majority of the television and radio outlets. The SABC was scheduled
to be split into two operational units—a public broadcasting company and a commercial
entity; however, the restructuring had not occurred by year’s end. The
SABC was managed by black executives, provided broadcasting in the country’s
main African languages, and offered news coverage of the Government and the leading
opposition parties. The SABC maintained editorial independence from the Government,
although the balance between editorial independence and national interest
remained a delicate topic with governmental officials. Critics alleged that top officials
were chosen for political reasons without regard for media expertise or relevant
experience.
The only commercial television station, e-TV, reaches 75 percent of the population;
however, its share of the viewership was only approximately 10 percent. Most of e-
TV’s schedule consisted of newscasts and foreign-produced programs; the Government
urged e-TV to meet its licensing conditions, which required programming to
include at least 30 percent local content. Majority ownership of e-TV was held by
Midi Television, a black-owned consortium composed of a number of associations
and syndicates representing workers, women, and persons with disabilities.
In addition to e-TV, the SABC competes with two pay-per-view broadcasters, M-
NET (encoded UHF transmissions) and MultiChoice (satellite broadcasts); several
commercial radio broadcasters; and a large number of low-power, not-for-profit community
radio stations.
Government broadcast regulators regularly issued community radio licenses;
many of the more than 80 stations operating continued to experience financing and
personnel problems. Nevertheless, community radio provided special event information
and news tailored for specific interest groups. In March 2001, Radio Islam, the
Muslim community radio station, applied for and was granted a 12-month temporary
license. During the year, it received an additional 12-month extension and
applied for a 4-year license, which was pending at year’s end.
There were several government agencies with media-related responsibilities such
as the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). The ICASA
has less independence from the Ministry of Telecommunications than previously
was granted to the Independent Broadcast Authority. In September 2001, the Department
of Telecommunications introduced a bill to Parliament that included further
limits to the power of ICASA and gave greater authority to the Minister of
Communications. This bill was the subject of a great deal of domestic and foreign
media scrutiny and criticism. SANEF regarded it as a regressive step by the Government
that could result in very little independence for the regulator of the broadcasting
and telecommunications media. The bill was passed by the Parliament in
November 2001; however, the President had not signed it into law by year’s end.
The Minister of Communications has a direct role in the awarding of telecommunication-service
licenses.
The Foreign Publication Board, formerly the Government Board of Censors, reviewed
and judged written and graphic materials published in or imported into the
country. The Board had the power to edit or ban books, magazines, movies, and videos,
and it regularly exercised that power, mostly regarding pornographic material.
The Government Communications and Information Service (GCIS) coordinated and
facilitated communications with the citizenry through its Directorate for Media Diversity
and Development.
Internet access was unrestricted for persons with the ability to pay for the service.
The number of Internet users continued to expand quickly. All major newspapers
maintained Internet sites, most of which were updated daily with the latest news
and features. In November the Parliament passed a bill that provides for state monitoring
of telecommunications, including the Internet and e-mail (see Section 1.f.).
The Government did not restrict academic freedom.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association.—The Constitution provides for
freedoms of assembly and association, and the Government generally respected
these rights in practice. However, on July 11, police used tear gas and rubber bullets
to disperse forcibly a crowd of approximately 100 persons during a South African
Municipal Workers’ Union strike in Cradock; 10 persons were injured.
There was no action taken against the responsible police officers who forcibly dispersed
approximately 100 persons in February 2001, injuring 2 of them, and who
forcibly dispersed striking postal workers in March 2001.
c. Freedom of Religion.—The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the
Government generally respected this right in practice.
The Bill of Rights prohibits the State from unfairly discriminating directly or indirectly
against anyone on religious grounds, and it states that persons belonging to
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